Chapter 59: The Dragon King's Delusion! A Slap in the Face!
"It hurts, it hurts so much..."
Xia Liu clutched his chest, gasping for air as if drowning on dry land. The pain wasn't physical; it was the agonizing sting of betrayal.
He watched from the shadows, his eyes burning with unshed tears. His fiancée, Qin Ningbing, the woman he had dreamed of for years, was standing beside Shen Anyu. She wasn't just standing there; she was adjusting his collar, her movements tender and practiced, like a wife seeing off her husband.
"Qin Ningbing! I, Xia Liu, am your fiancé! Your future man!" he whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking. "How could you?"
Previously, when he saw them in the car, he could make excuses. Maybe she was forced. Maybe it was just a polite greeting. But now? Her smile was genuine. Her eyes sparkled with affection. She was acting completely like the lady of the house, welcoming guests alongside Shen Anyu.
"Could it be... no, impossible! Ningbing is my fiancée! We have a contract!"
Xia Liu shook his head violently, refusing to accept the cruel reality. A self-deceiving person cannot be convinced unless the truth is shoved down their throat.
"I need to see it closer. I need to be sure!"
Seeing Qin Ningbing leave alone towards the garden, Xia Liu's eyes lit up with a desperate hope. He pulled his cap lower and followed her, blending into the darkness.
"She must be going to meet me! She must have sensed my presence!"
He didn't believe his fiancée truly loved another man. It must be a misunderstanding. Or she was being coerced. Yes, that must be it! Shen Anyu was forcing her!
However, Shen Anyu didn't care that Xia Liu followed.
Qin Ningbing was protected by a Martial Arts Grandmaster drawn from the System—a loyal shadow guard who would kill without hesitation. Xia Liu, in his weakened state, couldn't even get close to her shadow.
Furthermore, both Qin Ningbing and Xia Liu had nanometer monitoring robots placed on them. Their every move, every breath, was known to Shen Anyu like the back of his hand.
"Go ahead," Shen Anyu thought, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Go confront her. Mention the engagement. Let's see how much she despises you."
Currently, Shen Anyu had other matters to attend to. The main event was just beginning.
Immediately after Qin Ningbing left, to the astonished gazes of the crowd, Shen Anyu slowly walked towards the corner where the Liu family stood.
Liu Shiming, the director of Shanghai First People's Hospital, instantly froze. His eyes widened as he saw the golden figure approaching. He grabbed his daughter Liu Mi's arm, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Daughter! Quick! Greet Young Master Shen! He's coming to us!"
He was overjoyed. Although as a hospital director, his status wasn't low, compared to Shen Anyu, he was nothing. Even the boss of Modu treated Shen Anyu with deference.
And now, Shen Anyu was actively walking towards them, ignoring the billionaires and tycoons. Could it be that he was interested in his daughter, Liu Mi?
Liu Shiming felt the wild joy of winning the lottery.
Liu Xingsheng and He Xuemei, standing nearby, looked at this scene with envy so potent it tasted like bile. They glared at Liu Mi, then at their own daughter, Liu Qingyue.
"Why didn't we marry Qingyue to someone like that?" He Xuemei hissed. "Instead of that useless live-in son-in-law Han Qi, who only knows how to fetch foot-washing water!"
Liu Qingyue's expression was calm, but a ripple of emotion disturbed her serene heart. She looked at Shen Anyu, radiating power and elegance, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Not for the wealth, but for the respect. Such glory... she would probably never have it in her life.
"Han Qi..." She gently shook her head.
If it weren't for her parents' forced marriage to a dissolute playboy, she wouldn't have agreed to Han Qi's proposal. It was a fake marriage, a contract to protect herself.
For three years, they were husband and wife in name only. They had never even touched hands. She focused solely on the small lighting factory, trying to keep it afloat. Unfortunately, business was getting harder. She wondered if she could land a big client tonight...
At this moment, as Shen Anyu stopped in front of them, Liu Mi became the focus of the entire venue.
Liu Mi's charming, foxy eyes filled with surprise and excitement. She quickly adjusted her dress, ensuring her best angle was visible. She bent over slightly, revealing a hint of her cleavage, and bowed to Shen Anyu with a seductive smile.
"Liu Mi greets Young Master Shen. It is an honor."
Shen Anyu's expression was calm. He glanced at her, his gaze appreciative but detached.
"Mm."
Then, to everyone's shock, his gaze shifted past the enchanting Liu Mi. He looked directly at the quiet woman standing behind her, shrinking into the background.
He smiled kindly, his voice warm and inviting.
"Madam, may I be so bold as to ask for your name?"
The silence was deafening.
Liu Mi's charming smile froze on her face. Her eyes widened in disbelief. He... ignored her? For her cousin?
Liu Shiming looked at his distant niece, Liu Qingyue, with an unreadable expression. Confusion, shock, and a hint of jealousy warred on his face.
Liu Xingsheng and He Xuemei, however, felt like they had been hit by a grand prize from the heavens. They almost jumped in excitement. They quickly pulled Liu Qingyue forward, pushing her in front of Shen Anyu like a product on display.
"Young Master Shen! This is our daughter, Liu Qingyue!" He Xuemei practically screamed, her voice shrill with eagerness.
"We run a lighting factory! We produce chandeliers, table lamps, wall lamps... everything! We also accept Gao Duan customization!"
"Our daughter, Liu Qingyue, is very capable! She is currently the sales manager... she can handle anything you need!"
Liu Qingyue felt helpless and embarrassed. Her parents were acting like market vendors. But she knew this was a rare opportunity. She forced a polite smile and looked at Shen Anyu.
"Young Master Shen, if you need lighting fixtures, you can have our lighting factory customize them for you. Although our factory is small, the quality is absolutely not bad. They are all exquisite products, and the prices are affordable!"
Saying that, she held out a business card with both hands, her head bowed respectfully.
Shen Anyu chuckled inwardly. He reached out and took the business card. His fingers brushed against Liu Qingyue's jade-like hands, causing her to flinch slightly. Her skin was cool and smooth, like fine mutton-fat jade.
He casually put the card into his pocket and said leisurely, his eyes locked on hers.
"Coincidentally, I'm planning to replace a batch of lighting fixtures in the mansion. Miss Liu Qingyue, if you're free, you can come to Riverside Luxury Mansion to discuss the details. Price is not an issue."
"If you do a good job, I will recommend your lighting factory to all companies under the Shen Corporation."
Boom!
The promise was like a nuclear bomb. Recommending to the Shen Corporation? That meant orders worth billions!
Liu Xingsheng and He Xuemei were practically dazed, their feet floating as if they were immortals. They were rich! They were finally going to be rich!
Liu Qingyue's pretty face, however, subtly changed. She sensed something in Shen Anyu's gaze—a heat that went beyond business. She looked at him seriously and said softly:
"Young Master Shen... thank you. Then, when you notify us, my husband and I will come to your Riverside Luxury Mansion together to discuss the design. How about that?"
She emphasized the word "husband."
After saying this, Liu Qingyue felt she was being presumptuous. How could a big shot like Young Master Shen be interested in a married woman like her? But she had to be careful. To avoid suspicion, it was inconvenient for her to visit him alone.
Although she and Han Qi had no feelings, she still had her principles. She didn't want to betray her marriage.
Shen Anyu's smile didn't falter. "Of course. Bring him along."
Bring him along to watch, he thought cruelly.
...
[Location: Parking Lot Outside]
On the other side of the wall, it took Han Qi nearly half an hour to find a parking lot in the crowded center of Modu. It cost thirty yuan an hour—a ridiculous price for ordinary people.
Han Qi paid it without blinking, though he knew what awaited him.
"I'll probably be scolded and humiliated by my in-laws again," he muttered, a self-deprecating smile on his face.
As the hidden Young Master of the Emperor Capital Han Family, he once threw millions as tips. Now, he was about to be scolded over thirty yuan.
But Han Qi savored it. It was part of his training. Part of his penance.
And it was all for one woman. Liu Qingyue!
Han Qi had always been low-key. Back in college, he had fallen deeply in love with the gentle and kind Liu Qingyue. But back then, he was in the midst of a whirlpool of trouble, hunted by his brother. He couldn't express his feelings.
Sure enough, three years ago, the car accident happened. His mother died. He barely survived.
Han Qi didn't even have to think to know it was Han Xiu. The two heavy trucks crushing him on the highway... it was a professional hit.
To save his life, to seek revenge, and to protect Liu Qingyue from the shadows, Han Qi fled to Modu. He became the timid live-in son-in-law, dispelling his brother's murderous intent by becoming trash.
"It won't be long, Han Xiu," Han Qi whispered, his eyes flashing with a fierce, bloody light. "I will make you pay with blood!"
The timid look vanished, replaced by the aura of a king.
"Qingyue... I will give you a grand wedding. I will make you the happiest bride in the world. I will let you know that the man you married is not a good-for-nothing..."
"But a Dragon among men!"